Or SERIAL FICS...
You know exactly what I’m talking about. The never-ending fics filled with smut and drama and angst, where every wrench and plot device is used to keep our two star-crossed lovers apart. These fics have dozens of chapters and thousands of reviews, and no foreseeable conclusion.
Half the time, I'm waiting for the EVIL TWIN to show up....or for a character to die and then suddenly come back to life!
There are certain fics out there that seem to have taken on a life of their own. A handful even seem to have a life beyond what the author originally planned!
There are those who LOVE them (hence the review count in the thousands…or tens of thousands) and those who hate them. But they are popular for a reason, so what’s the appeal?
I can see why they are popular. Some have latched on to certain trends in fanfic, some are controversial in content, and some are just…different. Some are light and fluffy and just plain entertaining. An added factor to some of these fics is that they are updated frequently and regularly, keeping any popular momentum it has going strong.
But what’s the deal? When is enough…enough? How many chapters are too many (there was a recent campfire about this)? At which point does an author allow the sudden popularity of his/her fic to take over where the original outline becomes abandoned and they just keep the thing going and going and going?
Authors: would you be offended if someone compared your fic to a soap opera?
Readers: when you’re reading one of these epic fics, at what point do you just give up?
Let’s keep things respectful. I think we can talk about this without naming names….but if you do choose to name a specific story, please play nicely.